How the Find Hub location sharing works

The feature creates a secure bridge between your tracker and the airline’s baggage system. When you mark a bag as lost in the Find Hub app, it generates an encrypted URL that points to your item’s real-time location.

That link acts as a temporary key. Paste it into an airline’s lost luggage form and their staff can pull up your bag’s position on a map using the same tracing tools they already work with daily. The airline never gains permanent access to your tracker or its history. The link expires after seven days and deactivates immediately once your phone detects the bag is nearby again. Google keeps the underlying location data encrypted end to end.

Step by step guide to sharing your bag’s location

Start in the Find Hub app on your phone. Find the lost item in your list and select it. A button labeled “share item location” appears, and tapping it generates a unique secure URL that you can copy.

Head to the airline’s website or app. Find the baggage help section and paste the link directly into the form. The airline gets access to a map showing your bag’s location with real-time updates.

Sharing stops the moment your phone detects the item is back with you. Google builds in extra privacy protection with automatic link expiration after seven days and encrypted device data.

Google is working with Samsonite to embed Find Hub technology directly into suitcases. That means future luggage will pair with the network right out of the box with no separate tracker tag required. The company also confirms more airlines including Qantas will join the program soon.

For now the feature gives Android users the same luggage tracking power iPhone owners have used since last year. Grab a compatible tracker tag before your next trip and check if your airline is on the list. The whole setup takes minutes and could save you hours of stress at the baggage counter.

Credits: digitaltrends

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Now, just because American is eliminating bag sizers doesn’t mean that restrictions on carry-on items are being eliminated. Gate agents are being told to use their best judgment in deciding whether a bag is too big, but they’re supposed to err on the side of the customer, if it’s a close call.

Here’s the memo that American sent out to employees:

As we continue to build on the success of our revamped boarding process to improve the experience for our customers, bag sizers for carry-on bags will be removed from all gates systemwide beginning Monday, Oct. 6.

How to support this change:

• In the lobby: One of the most effective ways to reduce gate-checks is by identifying oversized bags early — ideally in the lobby, before customers reach the gate. That’s why lobby bag sizers will remain in place, and we’re encouraging agents to proactively scan the area, identify oversized bags, guide customers to use the sizer and check bags when necessary.
• At the gate: Rather than relying on the bag sizer, gate agents may use their judgment to determine whether a bag is clearly oversized and needs to be checked; if the bag appears slightly oversized, or if you’re not sure, err on the side of the customer.

What isn’t changing:

• Carry-on bags should not exceed 45 linear inches.
• Our carry-on bag policy (one carry-on bag, one personal item) remains the same. Any additional items (such as crossbody bags or purses) need to be consolidated to fit within the person’s carry-on or personal item.
• Whether in the lobby or at the gate, use your judgment to identify clearly oversized bags while making allowances for minor overages, like small front pockets or wheels. Third items such as crossbody bags/purses must be consolidated before boarding.

I’m confused by the motivation for this change?

Admittedly the whole airport gate environment can be pretty unpleasant, including announcements about carry-on bags, and more. Personally, I can’t make much sense of this change. Some passengers will of course continue to bring bags that are way too big.

Isn’t it better for the gate agent to be able to point someone to a sizer, rather than using their discretion? People already love arguing with gate agents about the size of their bag, about how they were allowed to bring it on their last flight, etc.

Perhaps this will be a net positive, though, with gate agents being told to err on the side of the customer when it comes to deciding whether to gate check bags. Then again, that’s all highly subjective, and I’m not sure allowing more big bags onto planes is actually good all-around.

I do wonder what the motivation is for this change. American has been making a lot of customer friendly changes lately, so is this supposed to be one of those? American claims this builds on the success of its revamped boarding process, but that doesn’t actually explain the logic for this policy update.

Interestingly, American isn’t the first airline to do this. United eliminated bag sizers at gates all the way back in 2020, and that seemingly hasn’t caused any major issues, so I guess it’s fine?

Bottom line

American Airlines is eliminating carry-on sizers at gates, following a similar policy change at United all the way back in 2020. American is telling gate agents to instead use their discretion in determining whether a bag is oversized, while telling them to err on the side of the customer, if it’s close or they’re not sure.

Credits: American Airlines

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